AIM-listed property developer Sutton Harbour Holdings has been dragged into a bizarre and embarrassing row over an aircraft ‘impounded’ at the disused Plymouth airport following an emergency landing.

The company, which counts City veteran Richard Bernstein’s activist investment house Crystal Amber as its biggest shareholder with 29.2 per cent of the stock, has refused to allow the pilot of the Jodel G-ASXU to take off again.

The vintage machine landed on August 9 while en route from Cornwall to Kent when the pilot decided to put down due to deteriorating weather which threatened the flight.

Impounded: The pilot of the Jodel G-ASXU decided to put down at the disused Plymouth Airport due to deteriorating weather which threatened the flight

Under the so-called Strasser Scheme, aerodrome owners adopted a policy of waiving all charges for emergency landings or diversions following a review by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Plymouth was signed up to the scheme before the airport closed almost four years ago. It is understood the pilot was initially told by security guards on the site that he could return once the weather improved to reclaim his property.

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But a concrete block was subsequently placed in front of the aircraft preventing its removal.

The company now argues it is unsafe for the aircraft to fly out and says it should be dismantled and removed by road, a solution the pilot believes would cost too much and lead to the scrapping of his machine.

Devon-based SHH (down 1.5p to 31.5p) has refused to back down for two weeks despite lobbying by other pilots and interested parties.

He has telephoned bosses at SHH to help try and resolve the situation. Howarth, a keen private pilot who also chairs the Parliamentary Aviation Group, said: ‘I think the owner of the airfield needs to recognise that the guy did the right thing in the circumstances.

‘If the aircraft is serviceable, and the insurance company says they will cover the risk, the obvious thing is to let him take off.

‘There is a risk other pilots confronted with the same decision to make, whether to put down or plough on in bad weather, could carry on and kill themselves.’

SHH said: ‘Our position is quite clear in that as a responsible company we have to be satisfied that any decision we make ensures that this aircraft leaves safely.

'The former airport site is in a built up area and has none of the facilities to safely manage the movement of aircraft.

‘We are continuing to work with the pilot’s representatives/insurers and other third parties over the arrangements to enable the aircraft to leave the site safely and as quickly as possible providing that the appropriate and necessary indemnities are in place.’

SHH’s board was understood to be meeting yesterday to discuss the crisis, which has attracted a barrage of criticism directed at the company on social media website Twitter.

Aviation publisher Ian Seager wrote: ‘Stop being mean spirited and narrow minded, and do the right thing.’

Private pilot Mark Templeman said: ‘Unbelievable that a so-called ethical local company can treat a pilot so badly.’